Improvement in device for setting the hands of watches



UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ADOLPH LANGE, OF GLASHTTE, SAXONY.

IMPROVEMENT IN DEVICE FOR SETTING THE HANDS 0F WATCHES.

Specification ibrming part of Imttr-rs Patent No. 89.667, dated Muy 4, 1369.

specification, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, in which like parts are represented by like letters in the several 1i gures.

The nature of my invention consists in an improvement on the device for setting the hands of watches, as shown by Letters Patent granted me, and bearing date May 15, 1866.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

In the drawings, A represents the stem of a watch, and B the key, iitting over the arbor D, which is turned by the cap E.

First, upon the arbor is the concave contrate-wheel F, with beveled cogs or ilanges, which are not only secured at their base, but are firmly incorporated with the solid head of the wheel. The lower face ot' this wheel F is provided with ratchet-teeth, which interlock and work with similar teeth on the upper' face of the ratchet-cylinder H, which is situated on the square part ot' the arbor, and which cylinder is movable up and down througha pivoted elbow-spring lever, S, operating upon a stationary spring and bifurcated arm, R, which fits into the groove N of the cylinder H. The lower rim or edge of this ratchetcylinder is provided with teeth a, which fit into those of an intermediate wheel, W, which wheel gears with the hand-wheel V, and which wheel V gears with the center pinion, b. These three last revolve constantly with the hands of the watch.

` In the drawings, Figure l represents the ratchet-cylinder H not in contact with the intermediate wheel, W, through which the hands against the upper edge, and the lower(aspring, s) bearing against the lower edge of' said slot. The pressure upon the inner edge of Rpushes the ratchet-cylinder down or along the arbor D, on which it slides until its teeth interlock with those oi' intermediate wheel W, as shown :in Fig. 2. The hands can now be turned in any desired direction by turning the cap E.

The moving of. the projection p of the lever L upward, as described, also throws the lower arm, c, of L outward, and it assumes the position shown in Fig. 2. This arm is a spring, and has a lip or projection, d, at its outer elbowed end, and after passing under the bezel it rises and catches against it, holding the lever L in position while the hands are being turned, and when this is finished the connec-- tion between H and W can be broken by depressing the projection d and pushing it under the bezel, when the spring-arm R will slide H upward out'of contact with W; but this is not necessary, for it can be easily effected by shutting down or closing the outer case of the watch, which depresses d, and it is automatically withdrawn.

While the watch is closed the hands cannot be deranged, as the projection d will rest against the inside of the cover, and p will be in the small notch in the bezel.

The lever L and arm R can be applied in like manner to a watch wherey the ratchet-cylinder H is thrown in gear with a pinion-wheel, as shown in my former patent referred to, in which case it has two projections on its lower surface, and the teeth a around its lower edge are not necessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Parent of the United States, is-

The combination and arrangement of the spring-arm R s and' bent-spring lever L c with the sliding cylindrical pinion-clutch H, for the purpose of engaging the hand-setting device of a'watch with the stem-windin g milled head, and disengaging the same automatically by closing the outer case of the watch, substantially as shown and described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

A. LANGE.

Witnesses:

GUs'rAv Gnrkius, VINcnNz HAUsLnRnnN. 

